Bridge-gate



(No Model.) 2 sheets sheet 1.

E. 0. DITTMANN.

BRIDGE GATE.

No. 498,463. Patented May 30, 1893-.

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(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.. E. G. DITTMANN.

BRIDGE GATE.

No. 498,463. Patented May 30, 1893.

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} showingaportion of the abutment and bridge,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNST C. DI'DTMANN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BRIDGE -GATE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 498,463, dated May 30, 1893.

Application filed March 31, 1893.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ERNST C. DITTMANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridge-Gates, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in bridge-gates, and is especially adapted to that class of gates, which are applied to draw, or revolving-bridges; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The objects of my invention are first, to provide a gate for such bridges, which will be automatically opened and closed by the operation or movement of the bridge; and second, such a gate which by reason of its construction and operation will open and close or fence-up the approach or abutment to the bridge, as rapidly as the latter is turned, thus preventing accidents by persons walking or driving 01f the unguarded approach.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a plan view of aportion of one of the approaches or abutments and a part of the bridge, showing it, as well, as the gate open, or in position for travel. Fig. 2, is a horizontal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3, is a view in front elevation, partly in section,

and a part of the gate raised, and closing the exposed part of the approach. Fig. 4, is a fragmental plan view, partly in section, of a portion of the abutment and bridge, showing the tripping arms and the bridge in the act of being turned in the direction of the arrow, so as to close the approach. Fig. 5, is a similar view of like parts, showing a portion of the bridge in the act of being turned so as to lower the gate and open the bridge for travel. Fig. 6, is a view in front elevation, partly in section, of Fig. 5. Fig. 7, is a vertical sectional view of a portion of the abutment and the supporting bracket for the pickets or uprights forming the gate. Fig. 8, is a plan Serial No. 468,546. (No model.)

view of a portion of the platform of the bridge and its tripping-arms, illustrating the manner of retracting and extending the same. Fig. 9, is a detail View of one of the operating levers of the tripping-arms, and Fig. 10, is a perspective view of one of the tripping-arms detached.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

A, represents one of the abutments or approaches, the upper part of which is provided with a bracket A, which is secured in a horizontal position to the abutment, and is for the reception and operation of the pickets or uprights, C, which form the gate.

B, is the platform or floor of the bridge, which is mounted or pivotally secured on a pedestal B, placed at its center.

As shown in Fig. 7, the bracket A, is substantially rectangular in cross section, and is formed on its outer surface with upright arms a, between which are pivotally secured the pickets C, or upright pieces of the gate. The

upper rear portion of the bracket A is provided with an inwardly extending flange or projection a which extends the entire length of the bracket, and acts as a stop or catch for.

the lower end of the pickets C, and serves to retain the same in a horizontal position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7, after the said pickets have been liberated from their vertical positions, by means of the trippingarm or arms D, which are secured to the platform of the bridge, and project slightly therefrom, and at substantially right angles therewith, as is illustrated. The outer ends of the arms D, are formed or provided with a downwardly and inwardly inclined curve d, which terminates at its lower part in a point cl, which is rendered cam-like by reason of the inwardly curved portion 01 so that when the bridge is moved in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figs. 5, and 6, the projection 03, will contact with the dogs or levers e, which are pivotally secured in suitable bearings e, on the bracket A, said dogs or levers being located at proper points to operate in the slots on, between the arms a, of the retaining bracket, and have their rear portions e weighted, in order to overbalance their front parts, and to cause them to engage the lower ends of the pickets C, when the same are in their upright positions. When the bridge is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, the curve d on the arm D, will contact with the shorter portions of the pickets C, and will cause the same to be raised to an upright position, when the levers e, will engage their lower ends, and retain them vertically, as is obvious.

It is apparent that when the bridge is closed and ready for travel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the pickets C, will lie in a horizontal position, and their inner ends will rest against the projection or flange a and as the platform of the bridge is provided at each of its sides with an arm D, that by turning the bridge in either direction the curved parts d of the said arms will contact with the shorter horizontal portions of the pickets, and cause them to be raised, as before stated.

In order to prevent the dislocation of the armsD, when the bridge is swung to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. l, by the passage of vessels or otherwise, I may pivotally securethesaid arms to the bridge, and connect to their inner portions rodsf, which are secured at their other ends to the leversF, which levers are fulcrnmed to the lower surface of the platform of the bridge, and lie horizontally therewith, and are connected by means of. a toggle joint g, to a horizontal rodG,which rod is secured at its other end to a lever II, which is fulcrumed to the pedestal or base B, as at h, and is provided at its lower end with rollers h',which operate circnmferentially on the cam I, which is 10 cated on thebaseB, as is shown in Figs. 1, and 2, and has its greater diameter in a transverse direction to the bridge, when open for travel. It will. therefore be seen and understood, that when the bridgeis turned to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, therollers h, on the lovers H, Willrotate on the cam I, andwill cause the arms to beretracted, and the parts to assume the position indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1, and 8, of

the drawings.

In Fig. 1(),I have shown a perspectiveview tion, and the surface adjacent to the uprights or pickets. 'I may sometimes use this projection in order to act on the shorter ends of what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bridge-gate, the combination of the tripping-arms secured to the platform of the bridge, with a number of pickets or uprights adapted to engage the tripping-arms and to be raised and lowered thereby, and a bracket or bearing for said pickets, having a flange or projection to hold them in a horizontal position, substantially as set forth.

2. In a. bridge-gate, the combination of the tripping-arms secured to the platform of the bridge, with a number of pickets oruprights adapted to engage the tripping-arms and to be raised and lowered thereby, anda bracket or hearing for said pickets, having a flange or projection to hold them in a horizontal'position, and levers or dogs to support them vertically, substantially as described.

3. In a bridge-gate, the combination of the tripping-arms D, having the inclined parts d,

and d", and point (1', secured to the platform of the bridge, with the pickets G, the bracket A, on the abutment A, having the flange a to support the pickets horizontally and the levers to sustain them vertically, substantially as described.

4. In a bridge-gate, the combination of the tripping-arms D, pivotally secured to theplatform of the bridge, with'the rods f, and levers F, and rod G, having the connections g, thevertical rods orv levers H, fulcrumed to the pedestal of the bridge, and having the rollers h, to impinge-withthe cam I, saidcam. being located on thebase orpedesta-hthe pickets O, the bracket A, having the flange 01, and levers (2, all constructed, arrangedand operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ERNST O. DITTMANN. Witnesses:

CHAS. O. TILLMAN, E. A. DUGGA-N. 

